Why we (Chinese) celebrates this day: always 3 days before Christmas ?
Dong Zhi is the second most important festival of the Chinese calendar.
Celebrated on the longest night of the year, Dong Zhi is the day when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest. The coming of winter is celebrated by families and is traditionally the time when farmers and fishermen gather food in preparation for the coming cold season. It is also a time for family reunions.
This celebration can be traced to the Chinese belief in yin and yang, which represent balance and harmony in life. It is believed that the yin qualities of darkness and cold are at their most powerful at this time, but it is also the turning point, giving way to the light and warmth of yang.
For this reason, the Dong Zhi Festival is a time for optimism.
Dong Zhi is celebrated in style. The longest night of the year is a time to put on brand new clothes, visit family with gifts and to laugh and drink deep into the long night.
For my family?
We still celebrate this event till today...but minus the "tang yuon" or in foochow "si yang" (dry type mixed with kacang powder). Tonight, I have celebrated with my parents and family of my eldest brother, having sumptuos dinner at a local restaurant.
At young, my mum will cook big time at home...and we children shall burn fire crackers after dinner (only during this occasion, I have the opportunity to drink soft drink...like aiscream soda, sarsi and fanta green). I must admit that Sibu still provide the strong scent of this tradition when compared to bigger city like Kuching or KL, may be because Sibu folks are still pretty a loyal traditional group of people keeping the tradition intact.
I will continue this good tradition as a family reunion activity and also celebration towards a whiter Christmas with love and a brand new year at the corner.
Have a GREAT PARTY.
No comments:
Post a Comment